Area marching band to perform in North Carolina Governor’s Inaugural Parade

Wednesday

Jan 9, 2013 at 12:01 AM

A Carteret County high school marching band is following up one prestigious appearance with another.

DAILY NEWS STAFF

RALEIGH — A Carteret County high school marching band is following up one prestigious appearance with another.

The West Carteret High School Marching Patriots have been selected to participate in Saturday’s North Carolina Governor’s Inaugural Parade in Raleigh. The parade is part of inaugural events for Gov. Pat McCrory, who was officially installed as governor last weekend.

The marching band has been invited to perform by the State of North Carolina 2013 Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, Carteret County Public Schools announced Tuesday.

The West Carteret band will appear as the third high school band in the parade lineup following the alma mater bands for the governor and lieutenant governor.

It’s the second major honor for the band this school year.

The Marching Patriots traveled to Disney World in Florida in December to tape a performance that was aired on television Dec. 25 for the Disney Parks Christmas Parade. Only one high school band is selected each year to be featured in the Disney Parks Christmas Parade.

“West Carteret High School’s Marching Patriots are known throughout the state and nation for their excellence,” said Dan Novey, Carteret Public Schools superintendent, via the announcement. “They were featured on national television Dec. 25 as part of the Disney Park Christmas Parade and now will be prominently featured in the Governor’s Inaugural Parade. We are very proud that the band was selected by the committee and believe those watching the parade will be in for a treat from the West Carteret High School band.”

West Carteret officials said the appearance is an honor and tribute to the hard work of the students.

“Our band students work very hard throughout the entire year in their classes, in practices and performances,” Principal Carolyn Heller said. “To have been selected to participate in the Governor’s Inaugural Parade is indeed an honor for our school and our county.”

The band has begun rehearsing for the inaugural parade.

“We consider it an honor and privilege to be representing the County of Carteret, the Town of Morehead City and the Carteret County School System in this prestigious parade,” West Carteret High School Director of Bands Craig Everett said in the announcement. “Citizens and businesses of this community have been so supportive of the West Carteret band, and we are very pleased to be able to represent them in Raleigh this Saturday.”

The parade begins at 12:30 p.m. and follows McCrory’s public oath of office and swearing-in ceremony as 74th governor of North Carolina.